Immigration Deal Not Trusted by Americans

Of course, that is no surprise given recent polling on the issue. But George Will does a pretty good job explaining why:

Although the compromise was announced the day the Census Bureau reported that there now are 100 million nonwhites in America, Americans are skeptical about the legislation, but not because they have suddenly succumbed to nativism. Rather, the public has slowly come to the conclusion that the government cannot be trusted to mean what it says about immigration.

In 1986, when there probably were 3 million to 5 million illegal immigrants, Americans accepted an amnesty because they were promised that border control would promptly follow. Today the 12 million illegal immigrants, 60 percent of whom have been here five or more years, are as numerous as Pennsylvanians; 44 states have populations smaller than 12 million. Deporting the 12 million would require police resources and methods from which the nation would rightly flinch. So, why not leave bad enough alone?

There is a long history to talk on immigration, but rarely does anyone really think about the actual gut feelings of Americans.

Collectively the American people have been raised up believing in the fundamental premise of the rule of law and those who flout the law should not be rewarded. For example, take a long look at how people feel about Barry Bonds and the home run record. Because they believe he has used drugs and cheated his way to where he is, many feel he should not be rewarded for his efforts. If Americans feel that way about a baseball record, how do you thinkg they feel on something far more consequential to our safety and security? They don't like giving someone a free pass for breaking the law just because there are 12 million of them.

But what is interesting to me is that our so-called leaders, don't recognize a few basic facts and the impact that immigration has upon the outcome of those facts.

Fact: We as a nation are facing a fiscal crisis in our entitlement programs.
Fact: Most illegal immigrants are a larger drain on our economy and services than they provide in terms of labor. Services including police, fire and rescue services, schools, hospitals, and other public services.
Fact: Some significant percentage of crimes committed in this country are committed by illegal alients. I don't know the percentage, in fact I don't know if anyone does, but our jails and prisons are full of illegal aliens, so there must be some connection.
Fact: Most Americans oppose the immigration deal proposed by Ted Kennedy.

Conclusion: Taxpayers pay a very large amount of money each year to support illegal immigrants and immigration and they are tired of it.

While I have no doubt that this immigration deal will not become law, I am not convinced that our leadership in Washington understands why. The heart of the problem is that Americans have a healthy skepticism on illegal immigration and being the Americans they are, feel that the law should not benefit those who break it.